Whether you are buying a home, working with a contractor to build a home, or putting on the hard hat yourself with a DIY home construction loan, chances are you will need financing. When applying for a home loan, here are the common documents you will need to help ensure a smooth loan process.

Home Loan Document Checklist

These are the documents you will need for almost all home and home construction loans.

• Completed loan application: Most lenders, like GreenStone, offer an online application tool in addition to a paper loan application. We recommend speaking with a financial services officer before applying to go over approval details and discuss your plans.
• E-consent form: Opting into E-consent will allow GreenStone to send notices, documents, and disclosures to you electronically.
• Two most recent tax returns, including W-2s: At GreenStone, we require your two most recent tax returns, including your W-2s. We will evaluate your two-year historical average.
• Pay stubs from the past 30 days: To confirm your income and current employment status.
• Two most recent monthly bank statements: To verify your liquid assets and confirm the source of your downpayment.
• Most recent investment statements: GreenStone requests your most recent statement from each of your IRA, 401K, retirement, or other investment accounts. This information will document any additional liquid assets.
• Purchase agreement: A legally binding document, signed by the seller and purchaser, documenting the details of the sale/purchase of the real estate. If the transaction is a purchase, GreenStone will require a fully executed purchase agreement.
• Photo Identification: For your safety, to be approved for a loan, you must provide an official form of photo identification. This can be a driver’s license, a state-issued ID card, or a passport.

Additional Documents Needed for a Refinance

If you are refinancing a piece of land or a home, you will need the documents listed from the checklist above, along with your:

• Most recent winter and summer tax bills: As part of the evaluation of your ability to repay your loan, lenders consider your real estate taxes. At GreenStone, when refinancing, we ask for your most recent winter and summer tax bills.
• Insurance declaration page indicating annual premium: We take into account your homeowner’s insurance premium to ensure all expenses are factored into the feasibility of loan repayment.

DIY Home Loan Document Checklist

If you are building your dream home as a “do-it-yourself” project instead of fully contracted, you will need all the documents listed from the home loan document checklist, along with the following documents:

• Your building plans: GreenStone requires an outline of your building plans, including the dimensions of each room and floor plan. Some lenders also require stamped blueprints.
• Dwelling specifications form: Your lender will ask for a plans and specifications form that outlines the design of your home. The form will also specify what type of materials you will be using throughout the entire house.
• Bids from contractors for the entire build: While you may be planning to build portions of the home yourself, it’s important to plan ahead in case there is a bump in the road. GreenStone may require bids from contractors to complete the work in case you are injured or can no longer finish the project yourself during the designated timeline.
• Signed and notarized sworn statement: A sworn statement is a construction document that lists the contractors and suppliers that provide material or labor for a project. It includes information about who is owed money and how much they are owed.
• Dwelling under construction insurance (builders risk insurance): Most lenders, including GreenStone, require you to secure builder’s risk insurance to protect against things like theft of building materials or weather-related structure damage during construction.
• Construction agreement or builder contract: If you are working with a contractor for portions of your home construction, you will also need to provide a construction agreement or builder contract so your lender can review the details and timeline of the project. GreenStone requires a construction agreement signed by both you and the builder(s). If you are working with more than one building company, you will need to provide an agreement for each one.

Knowing what documents to provide when applying for a home or construction loan can be overwhelming. Our local team of lending experts are ready to assist you! Before applying, reach out to your local GreenStone branch, to have a member of our team walk you through the approval process, or get started with the loan application process here.

With planting season in full swing, it’s a good idea to take a step back and evaluate a few financial checkpoints to ensure you are on the right track for hitting your goals for the season. Planting season is one of the busiest and most cash-intensive times of the year, so taking a proactive approach to reviewing your financial position can help support informed decision-making and position your operation for success throughout the entire year.

Know Your Numbers

Input Costs

Cost awareness will improve everything from your marketing decisions to your pricing strategy, to your peace of mind and confidence. Start by identifying your break-even cost and cost per acre. Having a clear understanding of the cost to produce your crop allows you to better manage input expenses like seed, fertilizer, and fuel while keeping track of what you’ve already spent this season. Review which costs have increased since your original projections and evaluate where adjustments can be made. If needed, look for opportunities to reduce expenses now so you can stay on track with your goals.

Working Capital

During this time of year, when cash flow is typically lower, it is also important to evaluate your working capital. Do you have enough cash flow to cover your input costs and operating expenses? An operating loan can help give you the working capital you need to keep operations running smoothly.

Be sure to monitor your operating line usage closely—if expenses are higher than expected and you need to increase your line of credit, reach out to your lender as soon as possible to discuss the right solution to support your operation.

Revenue Projections

As you wrap up planting, evaluate whether your planted acres matched your plan going into the season. Are there any early indicators such as weather, soil conditions, or prevented planting that could impact your yield for harvest season? If so, communicate these challenges as far ahead as possible with your lender, especially if they are impacting your revenue projections.

It’s never a bad idea to communicate potential challenges to your tax specialist ahead of time too. This can help them estimate your tax liability and recommend strategies to manage it as well. At GreenStone, our lending and financial services work together, minimizing the need to work with a separate lender and tax and accounting specialist. Our team is here to find the best possible solutions for you!

Plan Beyond the Current Season

Service Your Equipment

Are there any repairs or routine maintenance that should be performed on your equipment? Don’t wait until something breaks to service your machines; preventative maintenance goes a long way in extending the life – and value – of your costly investment. Now is the time to get your fleet ready for harvest season. It’s also important to consider any equipment upgrades or replacements that should be made at this time. Just be sure you are avoiding unnecessary capital purchases, and the return on investment is beneficial to your operation and your bottom line!

Evaluate Coverage Levels

It’s also a good idea to consider additional coverage options for your crops, such as adding crop hail insurance to your policy which can protect you against yield losses caused by fire, lightning, or vandalism. Talk to your crop insurance specialist about additional coverage options that are available to you.

Invest Now in Input Costs

If possible, purchasing inputs such as seed and fertilizer in the off-season can save you time and money in the long run.

Plan for your other upcoming seasonal cash flow needs as well. Ask yourself what your cash flow needs will be as you begin to plan for harvest season that you can account for now, such as grain storage or land rent payments.

The Power of Being Proactive

More than anything, being proactive when communicating with your lender is key. Knowing your numbers provides the foundation for every decision you make, helping both you and your lender make informed decisions that will help you reach your goals each season.

Contact your local team of lending experts at your nearest GreenStone branch to learn more.

 

This article was originally published in Michigan Farm News.

Located in Ellsworth, Mich., between Traverse City and Charlevoix, is Circle M Acres founded by Jeanna Michalek. They focus on equine education, horse boarding, riding lessons, and hosting small horse shows. The operation serves a wide range of participants, from children as young as 3 years old to adults in their 70s. Circle M Acres is designed to be both an educational and welcoming environment where people of all ages can learn about horsemanship, build confidence, and develop their skills around horses.  

While growing up with horses, Jeanna was involved in 4-H, which played a crucial role in shaping her agricultural experience. During high school, she mentored younger 4-H members, taking them under her wing, which sparked her passion for equine education and mentorship.  

Over the years, she built on that foundation through other hands-on experiences, and that’s when Circle M Acres officially came into fruition as a business in 2020. Now, the team cares for around 20 horses, half of which are a part of the business.  

Jeanna used GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth Grant to expand her knowledge and services through equine first aid training. “At our facility, only four of our horses are under the age of 10, so a large portion of our herd requires specialized care and attention as they age. I couldn’t find a lot of resources to help me, so I decided why not take an opportunity to better serve not only us, but other horse owners in the community.”  

Circle M Acres is financed through GreenStone, so when doing research for opportunities and resources for grant funding, it was the first place Jeanna looked. “Once I found it, the application process was very straightforward and approachable. It was easy to navigate and made me feel like it was a realistic opportunity, even for a nontraditional agricultural business like ours.” 

After being approved, Jeanna was set up to start the self-paced Equine First Aid Training program and is currently working through it. So far, one of Jeanna’s biggest takeaways from the course was how much horse owners can do to be proactive in emergency situations. “The training reinforced that having the right knowledge and tools in place can make a major difference during an emergency. We covered a variety of scenarios, including eye injuries, trauma situations, and other common emergencies horse owners might face. It gave me confidence to respond to situations like checking vitals, using emergency tools, applying bandages, and assessing injuries until the veterinarian arrives.” 

The training will help Jeanna to better support her horses, as well as her clients, while strengthening services offered at Circle M Acres. Jeanna says, “the biggest improvements it will bring is the ability to provide equine first aid education to others in the community, which adds another layer to our operations and helps diversify our income stream as well.”  

Jeanna wants to encourage others, especially those involved in non-traditional agriculture, to explore opportunities like those through GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program. “Grants like this can be incredibly valuable and accessible, and they’re a great way to invest in your operation, education, and future.”

If you are interested in exploring opportunities for a chance to invest in your future, click here to learn more about the CultivateGrowth grant and what it can offer you.

As a homeowner, you’ve probably heard of the term “home equity,” but are you familiar with what it means? Home equity represents the potential cash profit you would receive if you sold your home and paid off your remaining debt. Did you know you can leverage the equity you have in your home, and put it to work for you? Learn how to calculate your home equity, and how you can use it below.

How is home equity calculated?

Calculating your home equity is as simple as taking the current value of your home and subtracting the amount you still owe on your mortgage and any other liens you may have against the property.

For example, if your home is valued at $300,000, and you have a loan balance of $100,000, you will have $200,000 in total equity on your home. When working with your lender to calculate your home equity, they will conduct an official appraisal to get the most up-to-date valuation of your home.

From there, your lender will determine the amount of accessible equity you have in your home. Your accessible equity is what you can put to work for you. This is usually around 80% of what your home’s value is. So, for a home worth $300,000, 80% of that amount would be $240,000. After subtracting the $100,000 left on your loan balance, this leaves you with an accessible equity amount of $140,000.

What can I do with my home’s equity?

There are many ways to leverage your home equity. A home equity loan can help you finance major life expenses, such as college tuition, a wedding, or investment opportunities. It can also be used to fund home improvements or renovations, or purchasing an additional property, such as a vacation home, or land.

Your lender will need to approve the use of your home equity loan. They will also look at qualification factors such as your credit score, and debt-to-income ratio like they would for any other loan. It is important to note that to qualify for a home equity loan with GreenStone, your first mortgage must also be financed with GreenStone.

How to know if a home equity loan is right for you

Equity can be a powerful financial tool, but it should be used wisely. When determining the right way to utilize your home equity, ask yourself these questions:

• Can I afford to add a new monthly payment in addition to my existing mortgage?
• Are the interest rates for a home equity loan favorable?
• Is a home equity loan the best choice for my individual needs, or would an alternative financing option be better for me?

A home equity loan should be a strategic investment that makes sense for your unique goals. As an existing GreenStone home loan customer, our dedicated team of loan experts will walk you through each step of the process and ensure your goals are aligned with the funds accessible through a home equity loan.  

How home equity loans work

When it comes to building equity in your home, the value of your home will generally grow naturally over time due to market appreciation and inflation. Investing in your home through home improvements such as bathroom or kitchen upgrades, or major projects like an addition or finishing a basement will also increase your home’s value. Making extra payments to the principal and simply paying down your mortgage over time are other ways to build equity, giving you the opportunity to use it to your benefit.

Home equity loans with GreenStone can be financed anywhere from five up to 30 years on a fixed interest rate. As an existing home loan customer with GreenStone, if you only have a few years left to pay on your mortgage, you have the option to keep your existing loan and finance your home equity loan separately. You may also have the option to roll your existing loan into a new one that includes your home equity loan, consolidating both into one loan. This is something your GreenStone financial services officer can advise you on. Your financial services officer will work with you after being approved to find the best structure for your home equity loan.

Refer to the experts

Understanding the equity you have built up in your home will help you make informed decisions on how to use it and how it can benefit you the most.

If you have any questions on how you can access your home’s equity and how you can put it to work for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local GreenStone branch and speak with a member of our lending team!

Damiana Andonova, originally from Bulgaria’s southwestern wine country, is exploring the development of a micro farm in South Haven, Mich. She envisions a small storybook-style micro farm where she plans to grow berries, mushrooms, and rare cut flowers, with an emphasis on regenerative practices and land stewardship.

Growing up in Bulgaria, Damiana’s great-grandmother raised chickens and goats, while she helped her family tend to a fruit garden. Those early experiences continue to spark her interest in cultivating food in a way that is sustainable and deeply rooted in tradition. She wants to honor those roots in South Haven.

Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Growth

Her goal is to advance regenerative farming practices locally by offering crops that are uncommon in the area and well-suited for local soil. Although she’s taken coursework in soil science, a big turning point was retaining the services of an agricultural business consultant, Janine Aquino, with the help of GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth grant.

“It helped me build an integrated pest management plan and strengthen my business strategy,” said Damiana. She also worked with mentors through USDA’s SCORE program, which gave her access to local guidance that helped shape her plans.

The grant dollars also allowed Damiana to participate in the Four Star Mushroom Plant Tour in Chicago where she toured the facility, asked questions and learned how mushroom operations function at different scales. She noted it enabled her to understand how others are entering the market and how they are gaining and retaining clients.

“I was really blown away by the Four Star Mushroom Plant Tour with their resilience and the relationships they have built over the years. Seeing Joe and Sean’s facility and the controlled environment they have built for their commercial mushroom operation helped me clarify the direction I wish to pursue. The experience was beneficial for me to understand production methods, sanitation standards, and how to really grow smart to scale,” said Damiana.

Damiana found the grant from researching agritourism and Michigan agricultural resources. “As someone who was very early in the process of exploring what to do, it was great to find a grant that helps young founders feel supported in their journey to make their dreams real. That’s what made the CultivateGrowth grant stand out to me. From helping to identify and access early resources to get me on the right path and guide me on how to move forward, I felt supported from the very beginning.”

Looking ahead, Damiana plans to dig deeper with sanitation protocols, safety measures, and capital equipment planning. “I am thinking bigger about how to create a system that is safe, efficient, and aligned with organic and regenerative values, while still being realistic for a small operation. I want to build something meaningful that lasts.”

If you are interested in exploring opportunities for support through GreenStone, click here to learn more about the CultivateGrowth grant.

Registration for seminars are now closed. Be on the lookout for future seminars near you!

At GreenStone, we realize the journey of buying your dream home can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the home buying process, or you’ve already explored a few homes, navigating the purchasing process can be a daunting task. We are here to help you each step of the way!

To guide you through this process and empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, we extend a warm invitation to join one of GreenStone’s complimentary home buying seminars!

Led by experienced mortgage loan experts, each seminar is meticulously designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the flexible financing options available to our members. Our experts will dedicate one hour to walk you through the entire home buying process, covering crucial aspects such as:

• Loan Approval Timeline: Gain insight into the loan approval timeline, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the steps necessary to secure your financing. 

• Various Loan Options: Explore the diverse range of loan options available, tailored to suit your specific needs and financial preferences. 

• Understanding the Loan Process: Dive into the unique steps of the loan process, giving you a comprehensive overview of what happens during the loan processing phase.  

Our goal is to equip you with the insights and confidence needed to take the next steps in your home-buying journey. Register now for one of GreenStone’s home buying seminars – our dedicated team of lending experts are here to help make buying your dream home a reality!

We understand life is busy, which is why we are offering three different options for you to attend either an in-person or virtual seminar that works best with your schedule.

Each event is free to attend; however, registration is required. Sign up to attend the in-person or virtual webinar that best fits your schedule:   

Sign up for a virtual home buying webinar 

• Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 pm EST
• Tuesday, June 2 at 12:00 pm EST 

Sign up for an in-person home buying seminar 

• GreenStone Traverse City Branch
  • 3491 Hartman Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685
  • Wednesday, June 3 at 6:00 pm EST

Join us to gain the knowledge you need to confidently navigate the home buying process. Don’t miss this opportunity to take the next steps toward buying the home you’ve always envisioned. Register now for one of Greenstone’s home buying seminars and embark on your journey to homeownership with confidence! 

Keeping open communication with your lender is one of the keys to navigating fluctuating market cycles. A downturn in commodity markets often creates challenges for many farmers across the country. It is pivotal to keep an open line of communication with your lender so that in the event of a challenging time, you and your lender can work together towards a mutually agreed upon solution.  

GreenStone has over a century’s worth of experience helping our members work through a wide variety of challenges they may face. We pride ourselves in partnering with our members and maintaining healthy, long-standing relationships with our borrowers. When challenges arise, honest and transparent two-way conversations are critical to determine the right course of action. We encourage you to reach out to your lender at the first sign of any financial headwinds you anticipate.

Due to the uniqueness of each borrower, GreenStone typically discusses and evaluates every situation on a case-by-case basis. Based on our experiences, below are some tips to consider ensuring productive and healthy communication with your lender and the best solutions and outcome:

Develop a trusted lender relationship

 Trust must exist both ways, between the customer and the lender. Establishing a trusted relationship requires honest, forthright and transparent conversations. At GreenStone, we build teams around each borrower so we can provide the best solutions and experience for all our customers.

Seek help early

If you feel you are not going to be able to meet an upcoming payment, or your working capital position is strained, it is important to reach out early. The earlier a problem is detected and diagnosed; the sooner the right solution can be implemented to solve the issue at hand.  

Be transparent with your lender

All information needs to be shared that impacts your financial position. Withholding details critical to your financial position, such as a change in business structure, disagreements between partners or even personal situations that may stress the financial position of the business are all important for developing the right solution.

Keep good financial records

 Maintaining high quality financial statements and records is critical regardless of your financial position. Being able to identify trends in these statements is paramount for your lender to be able to assess your situation and provide quality feedback. These should include a beginning and ending balance sheet with either tax returns or a high-quality profit and loss statement. For example, if you file a cash basis fiscal tax return for 2025, your lender needs a 12/31/2024 and 12/31/2025 balance sheet to understand the accrual earnings for that period. Your balance sheet needs to include accurate details for all assets and liabilities.

An accurate and detailed income projection is also critical to determine the right course of action in the future. Crop yield history and other production records are also beneficial to include in your financial information.

Develop a plan

An important part of your plan includes your goal for the outcome. Use your historical yield data and a marketing target. However, be realistic with yourself. If your 3-year average corn yield is 220 bushels/acre, don’t project 230 bushels/acre, especially if you are also projecting cost cutting in your input program. This is unfair to you and doesn’t give you a clear outlook on your potential to work out of the situation. If your plan includes liquidation of assets, research the true market value of that asset.

Overly optimistic plans can lead to a worse situation later. As we near planting season, connect with your lender ahead of planting to review your assumptions, discuss financing needs, and ensure your strategy is grounded in today’s market conditions. If your plan includes liquidation of assets, research the true market value—overly optimistic projections can lead to more challenges down the road.

Limit unsecured debt

Relying on credit cards and other unsecured debt can quickly escalate a short-term problem into an unreconcilable long-term problem. It can also hinder your ability to obtain other financing. If you need to use unsecured debt, be sure to have a repayment plan in place beforehand.

Keep an open mind

Often your plan you come to the table with needs adjustments to be feasible to both parties. An experienced lender will likely have practice in similar situations in the past. It is important to remain open to ideas through the process. An experienced lender likely has worked through a similar situation.  Our role as a trusted advisor is to “facilitate” a high-quality conversation identifying financial options that are acceptable to both parties.  Establishing trust in the lender – customer relationship will also pave the way for the best outcomes.  

Build working capital

 We’ve all heard the saying: “cash is king.” However, using cash to make capital expenditures can drain working capital in some cases. This should be kept in mind as you purchase assets. In some cases, you can improve your working capital position by rebalancing your debt stack, moving short-term liabilities down the balance sheet to an amortization that cash flows ideally. 

Regardless of the situation, there is no “one size fits all” plan that fits every situation. GreenStone’s priority when working with our members is to develop the approach best tailored to your unique situation.

We encourage you to always maintain an open line of communication through all seasons with your lender to create an ongoing conversation around implementing the right solutions for your farm.

 

This article was originally published in Michigan Farm News.

As a member-owned cooperative, GreenStone is governed by members who have a vested interest in seeing GreenStone continue its successful mission of serving rural communities and agriculture. In that GreenStone is a member-owned cooperative, guided by a Board of Directors made up of individuals who are members and directly invested in our long-term success and our mission to support rural communities and agriculture. To strengthen oversight, the board includes six committees, each dedicated to key areas of the organization’s operations. In partnership with the GreenStone leadership team, these committees help maintain the cooperative’s financial stability, encourage responsiveness to industry changes and innovation, ensure regulatory compliance, and uphold accountability to both members and employees. 

In the winter issue of Partners, three of our committee chairs (Audit, Finance, Technology) highlighted their perspective on their respective committees. In this issue, we feature the final three committees: Executive, Legislative and Public Policy, and Compensation. Here you’ll hear from these committee chairs and learn more on your cooperative’s strategic structure, focus, and leadership.  

Executive Committee:

 

GreenStone’s committee structure allows the board to have efficient oversight and meetings. Generally speaking, we conduct Board meetings quarterly, with committee meetings occurring prior to the scheduled board meeting. The committee structure results in excellent utilization of the board’s skill set and time. It also requires a level of trust between board members knowing that others are “doing the work” on important facets within the organization. This efficiency is enhanced by allowing committee members to dig much deeper into critical topics for the association; then, each of the committees’ work is rolled up and reported to the rest of the Board during the full board meeting.   

As board chair, one of my responsibilities is to chair the Executive Committee that consists of four members, including the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and two other Board members. The Executive Committee’s purpose is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling our responsibilities for association oversight. We work with our CEO Travis Jones and his executive assistant, Cheryl Motz, to review and discuss GreenStone’s direction including vision, mission, and strategic objectives. We generally engage in discussions to surface ideas or programs to bring to the board for review and action, including evaluations and recommended bylaw changes. We also set the agenda and schedule for the meetings.  

Other responsibilities of the committee include reviewing and setting board policies, regulatory changes, and other governance-related activities; executing board and CEO evaluations; reviewing committee structures and assignments (we recently added a Technology Committee as highlighted in the Winter Partners issue); and overseeing the director election process including review of nominating regions … just to name a few!  

To summarize, the Executive Committee has been chosen by our fellow board members to help guide strategy and vision in a deeper dive with our CEO. Each and every committee provides critical insight and vision for our cooperative. I’m thankful for the great group of people that guide our association and hope you are proud to be a member of GreenStone! 

Compensation Committee:

 

Committees play in GreenStone’s success. Our committee focuses on ensuring fair and competitive compensation for leadership positions and staff, aligning pay structures with performance and member value. This work is critical because it helps attract and retain talented leaders who drive the cooperative forward. 

As Compensation Committee Chair, I lead discussions that balance financial responsibility with the need to reward excellence. We review market data, evaluate performance, and make recommendations that reflect both industry standards and GreenStone’s mission. It’s a thoughtful process that requires collaboration and transparency. 

Committees like ours allow the board to dive into specialized areas, providing informed guidance that strengthens overall governance. Members might be surprised by how much teamwork goes into these decisions—board members and staff work closely to ensure every recommendation is practical and fair. 

I’m proud to serve in this capacity because it supports GreenStone’s long-term stability and member trust. By focusing on fairness and accountability, we help create a structure that benefits everyone. Committees aren’t just about oversight—they’re about building a foundation for continued success. 

Legislative and Public Policy Committee:

 

The GreenStone Legislative and Public Policy Committee was formed to advocate for our Farm Credit members with governmental leaders. As farmers and rural consumers, all of our operations are different but we share a common goal of being profitable and sustainable for our families. This requires us to be active at the capitals in Lansing, Mich, Madison, Wis., and Washinton, D.C., as farm programs and legislation are brought forward that impact us.   

As the committee chair, I am blessed to have incredible GreenStone staff that do the hard work day-to-day monitoring what may impact our members. In addition, the other board members that serve on the Legislative Committee bring decades of experience that make it easy to share our story and our members’ focus when we visit with congressmen and senators.   

Having a committee solely focused on political actions like the Farm Bill in Washington, D.C., or CAFO legislation in Lansing allows us to report back to the entire board and our members before these matters impact our farms and rural communities. 

 

To view the article in the online 2026 Spring Partners Magazine, click here.

For Cassie Hribek, farming was never a career she had to choose. It is who she is. 

A fourth-generation farmer from Bay County, Michigan, Cassie grew up immersed in the rhythms of her family’s farm, working alongside her dad from an early age.  

“I started working with my dad as a toddler,” said Cassie. “Farming just always felt natural to me. It’s what I grew up around, and what I love to do now.” 

Many of her peers experienced the common cases of existential uncertainty as they transitioned from high school to the real world, struggling to choose which path to take. Cassie never hesitated. 

“Farming was never really something I had to decide on,” she said. “I just knew that’s what I was going to do.” 

 

Honoring Family Tradition While Building Something New 

 

Cassie’s family farm has been in operation for four generations, and she grew up right where it all started. Today, she still lives close to home — so close, in fact, when she looks out the window of her living room, she can see the farm where she was raised. 

Honoring her family’s legacy has always been important to her, but Cassie was also determined to carve out her own unique place within it. 

Cassie began farming immediately after graduating from high school. She gradually acquired land and began building her own operation. Early on, getting access to enough land to support a profitable farm was difficult — even for a fourth-generation farmer with family support and a strong knowledge of the industry. 

“You think you’ll never get enough (land) to make a go of it,” said Cassie. “But it does happen. You just pick up a little more here and there.” 

Credibility through Experience 

Cassie is part of a growing generation of women in agriculture. While she’s quick to acknowledge there are many women farmers today, she recognizes running her own independent operation still sets her apart. 

“Sometimes people don’t take women quite as serious as they take men,” she said. “But once people get to know you and your operation, the respect is there.” 

For Cassie, credibility has come from experience, consistency, and results — not from trying to prove a point. Over time, her relationships have grown stronger, and her operation speaks for itself. 

“Cassie embodies the very spirit of a woman in agriculture. While she works alongside her dad, and is also married to a full-time farmer. What truly stands out is the strength and pride she brings to running an operation entirely her own,” said Mike Schwab, VP of lending at GreenStone’s Bay City branch. “Cassie’s natural leadership is unmistakable. I look forward to supporting her as she becomes the next generation of her family’s farming legacy.” 

The Desk is as Important as the Tractor 

Like many producers today, Cassie knows modern farming requires just as much business acumen as it does time in the field. Rising land values, high equipment costs, and fluctuating commodity prices make every decision count. 

“Everything costs a lot,” she said. “If you want to be successful, you definitely need to spend some time at the desk.” 

Strategic decisions — such as purchasing late-model used equipment instead of buying brand new — have helped Cassie and her family’s operations continue to grow while managing costs.  

Despite the stress and uncertainty that can come with farming, Cassie finds deep fulfillment in her work.  

“It can be pretty stressful at times,” she said. “But it’s also very rewarding.” 

Partnering with GreenStone 

When Cassie took her first steps toward running her own operation, having the right financial partner made all the difference. When the time came to purchase farmland, she turned to GreenStone — leaning on her family’s long standing relationship with the cooperative. “GreenStone is a great fit for beginning and young farmers,” said Cassie. “They just get it.” 

Cassie’s experience reflects the mission of GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program — to support young, beginning, and small farmers as they establish and grow their operations. From land financing to crop insurance and Patronage dividends, GreenStone has been a steady partner throughout her journey. 

“They make it easy… Everything is there, and you don’t have to explain farming to them,” said Cassie. “The Patronage program has been very beneficial — it’s nice to get something back that supports the financial health of your operation.” 

Farming for the Next Generation 

 

Looking ahead, Cassie’s goals extend beyond her own success. She and her husband, Jason, who runs his own farm operation, have two young sons, Dean, 5, and Eli, 4. Her hope is to grow her operation and make it viable for years to come — should her children choose to enter the family business and take over where she left off. 

“Farming is just a way of life,” she said. “It’s something that’s born into us. One day, it’d be nice to help them farm and let them be the boss.” 

For Cassie Hribek, farming is about patience, persistence, and pride — honoring the generations that came before her while building something sustainable for the next. Rooted in tradition and driven by determination, she’s proving that with the right support and a clear vision, young farmers can still grow their dreams.

 

To view the article in the online 2026 Spring Partners Magazine, click here.

The phrase “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made” is a well-known often misattributed aphorism that describes the chaotic, messy, and compromise-driven nature of the legislative process. This phrase suggests that while the final law product may be necessary and beneficial, the process of creating them is unappetizing, involving intense political maneuvering, lobbying, and backroom deals. This is not considered a pleasant job when the guts of the drafts are on the table, and it has been going on for centuries, in some cases creating divisions throughout history. 

Actual sausage making is a natural outcome of efficient butchery which has been practiced for centuries. This also is not a pleasant process that requires strength but was necessary to have humanity survive. There are thousands of types of sausages worldwide, Germany alone boasts having over 1,200 types. With countless variations in spices, meat types, and curing methods, the total number of sausages is almost immeasurable. 

Like sausage, there are thousands of laws that have been enacted over time. These enumerable laws have sustained humanity similarly to the ingesting sausage. Some sausages taste better than others. Call out your own favorite sausage or favorite law and good luck getting a room full of people to agree on either choice. 

What is long underway is the creation of a Farm Bill to replace the expired and outdated 2018 Farm Bill. While many laws impacting agriculture were addressed in the One Big Beautiful Bill, more updates are necessary in what is being referred to as Farm Bill 2.0. Sausage making is currently underway in both chambers of Congress.   

While all 12 titles of the Farm Bill are being addressed by Congress, there are aspects of Title 5, Credit, which are particularly relevant to the Farm Credit System impacting GreenStone. 

• Farm Credit’s top priority: Pass a strong Farm Bill. 

• Producer & Agricultural Credit Enhancement Act: Increase loan limits on FSA direct and guaranteed loan programs to better reflect the increasing costs of purchasing land and operating farms. 

• Farm Credit Administration Independent Authority Act: Ensure the Farm Credit Administration is the primary regulator of Farm Credit System institutions. 

• Investing in Rural America Act: Clarifying Farm Credit institutions’ authority to finance rural community facilities projects and encouraging partnerships on these projects with community banks. 

• FARM Home Loans Act: Modest proposal in line with the spirit of the Farm Credit Act by allowing Farm Credit institutions to serve rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less. 

• USDA Loan Modernization Act: To expand eligibility for direct loans to individuals or entity members that hold at least a 50% interest and that are or will become bona fide operators of the farm real estate acquired, improved, or supported with farm ownership, operating, or emergency loans. 

The expression that laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion to how they are made, was popularized in modern context by the industrial, sometimes controversial imagery in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”. Laws have been upgraded as has been called for overtime. The Farm Bill 2.0 is one that needs upgrading.  

The comparison to sausage making highlights the fundamental reality of democratic governance to achieve results. Politicians must trade votes, accommodate special interests, and revise initial proposals, sometimes to a point where what comes out is unrecognizable, much like grinding various meat scraps into a single sausage link. As one nation under law, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, sausage making to make the laws remains fundamental, and our voices matter in making them.

 

To view the article in the online 2026 Spring Partners Magazine, click here.